Earth, Wind & Fire's "September" is back on the Billboard Hot 100 — re-entering at No. 45 on the October 3, 2026 chart, a full 47 years after its last appearance. The funk classic's comeback is being powered by the annual "21st night of September" internet tradition, the yearly online celebration that sends the song surging every September.
Image: Earth, Wind & Fire (official "September" music video still)
The Comeback
"September" re-enters the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 45 on the chart dated October 3, 2026. According to reports, the song last appeared on the chart at No. 83 on the chart dated March 10, 1979 — a gap of 47 years between chart runs. The original 1978–79 run peaked at No. 8 and spent 17 weeks on the chart, making the 2026 return the song's 18th chart week.
The tracking week of September 18–24 supplied the numbers behind the comeback: according to reports, the song drew 6 million official U.S. streams (up 51% week over week), around 3,000 in sales (up 236%), and a radio audience of 3.3 million that more than doubled. It is Earth, Wind & Fire's first Hot 100 hit since "Sunday Morning" in 1993. All told, the band has scored 33 Hot 100 hits, including seven top 10s and one No. 1, "Shining Star" (1975). Billboard even ranked "September" the best September song of all time on September 1, 2026.
The Sept 21 Meme Engine
It all comes back to the opening line: "Do you remember / the 21st night of September?" Every year, that lyric fuels a wave of Maurice White screenshot memes and social-media posts marking the date, and each September 21 brings a fresh surge of streams and shares. This year, the tradition's intensity pushed the song past the threshold and back onto the Hot 100.
The Story Behind the Song
Released as a single in November 1978, "September" was one of three new songs on The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1. It was written by Maurice White, Al McKay and Allee Willis, as reported. Co-writer Allee Willis later told NPR how she pushed to replace the famous "ba-dee-ya" nonsense syllables with real words — and how Maurice White refused. Her lesson from the session: "never let the lyric get in the way of the groove." The writers reportedly tried dates from the 1st through the 21st before settling on the 21st because it "just felt the best" — there is no deeper meaning behind the date.
The comeback has a global halo, too: according to reports, "September" climbed from No. 185 to No. 69 on the Billboard Global 200, while the band's 1998 Greatest Hits collection returned to the Billboard 200 at No. 98.
Official Music Video
Frequently Asked Questions
How long was the gap between "September" chart runs?
47 years — the song last charted at No. 83 on March 10, 1979, and re-entered at No. 45 on the October 3, 2026 chart.
Why did "September" re-enter the chart?
The annual "21st night of September" meme tradition drove a streaming surge: 6 million official U.S. streams (up 51%) in the September 18–24 tracking week.
How big was "September" originally?
The original 1978–79 run peaked at No. 8 and spent 17 weeks on the Hot 100.
When was the last Earth, Wind & Fire Hot 100 hit?
"Sunday Morning" in 1993.
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